Downspout-cleaning device



' avwemtoz W/ W A R WERNER DOWNSPOUT CLEANING DEVICE Filed Dec. 30.

lllll|lll a Sept 8, 1925.

Patented Sept. 8, 1925 UNITED STATES ALEXANDER RAYMOND WERNER, 0F BRONX, NEW YORK.

DOWNSIOUT-OLEANING DEVICE.

Application filed December 30,1922. Serial No. 609,916.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ALEXAN ER RAYMOND lVEnNra, a citizen of the United States, residing at Bronx, in the county and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Downspout-Cleaning Devices, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to a down spout cleaning device, and an object of the invention is to provide a simple and eflicient de vice operable automatically to prevent clogging of a down spout, or similar article.

It is a common nuisance experienced by all house owners that their eaves troughs and down spouts frequently become clogged with leaves, accumulations of dust and dirt, and other objectionable matter, and that the only remedy usually is to manually remove the obstruction, often times at con siderable expense and trouble. In an effort to minimize this nuisance, it is a common practice to place a strainer in the upper end of the down spout where it communicates with the eaves trough, but while this prevents entrance of obstructing material into the down spout, it nevertheless accumulates material at the mouth of the down spout frequently sufiicient to cause over-flowing of the eaves trough.

According to the present invention it is intended that the upper end of the down spout shall be left open and that the device of this invention shall be placed at a suitable point in the down spout, usually tho not necessarily, adjacent to the ground, and that this device will serve to intercept all leaves, or other obstructing material, and will operate periodically to discharge such material laterally outof the spout.

A further object of the invention is to design the device in such form that it may be manufactured at reasonable cost, and so that it will constitute a suitable article of commerce which may be readily installed as a part of any existing pipe or down spout, or so that it may be inserted as a part of the length of any newly erected pipe or down spout.

Other objects and aimsof the invention, more or less specific than those referred to above, Will be in part obvious and in part pointed out in the course of the following description of the elements, combinations, arrangements of parts and applications of principles, constituting the invention, and

invention, being shown partly in vertical.

section for the better disclosure of struc tural features.

Figure 2 is a front elevational view of the device seen in Fig. 1, the cover being removed, and

Figure 3 is a transverse sectional view taken substantially upon the plane of line III of Fig. l.

Referring to the drawings for describing in dctailthe structure which is therein shown, the reference character L indicates a suitable, preferably short length of pipe, or down spout. The pipe illustrated herein is of circular cross section, tho it will be understood that it may be of any desired cross section, or of any size, or material, as usually employed for down spouts, and the like.

Arranged within this pipe, and extending diagonally there-across, is a screen G of suitable mesh for preventing passage of leaves, or other articles, which might clog the pipe, but not interfering materially with the free passage of water downwardly thru the pipe.

By placing the screen in a diagonal position leaves, or other obstructing material, will accumulate at the lower edge and between the screen and the adjacent surface of the pipe.

At the lower edge of the screen, therefore, the pipe is provided with a door H pivotally mounted, as at 1, at its upper edge so that its lower edge, which preferably stands directly adjacent the lower edge of the screen, may readily swing outwardly whenever the pressure against the door is suiii cient.

As a practical method of forming the door opening and of mounting the door, it is contemplated that a suitable door frame 2 shall be employed, preferably formed of cast metal, being shaped to fit to the contour of the pipe and being riveted, or otherwise suitably connected with the pipe, at spaced points, as indicated at 3. The pivot pin 1 lit) is carried by a pair of ears 4 which are formed integrally with the door frame and the door H is provided with similar ears 5 also engaging the pivot pin and holding the door so that an inset portion 6 thereof will fit snugly into the door opening when the door is closed.

Preferably the outer edge, as 7, of the frame is inclined outwardly at its lower end so that the door, in hanging by gravity from the pivot 1, will normally engage close against said edge 7.

If desired, the door may be provided with a weight 8 for further increasing the gravity pressure of the door against the edge 7.

As a simple expedient for attaching the screen G in position, the door frame 2 may be provided with an inwardly projecting flange, or similar surface providing portion to which the lower edge of the screen may be connected, as by means of rivets, or the like, 10.

It has been found in practice that a device constructed as herein described operates to intercept all leaves and other refuse seeking to continue downwardly thru the pipe, and that as this refuse piles upon the screen it operates at certain times to press the door H open so that the refuse becomes automatically discharged outwardly thru the door opening. At other times the refuse will form an almost complete stoppage in the pipe so that the water will pile up and rise within the pipe. \Vhen sufficient refuse and water is accumulated to produce the necessary pressure against the door, then the door will be suddenly swung open under the force of this pressure and the refuse will be swept outwardly by the water leaving the screen clean and unobstructed, after which the door will swing by gravity again to its closed position.

The device requires no particular attention but will operate automatically and as frequently as may be determined by the amount of refuse passing down the pipe.

While the invention is herein described as being particularly adapted to the automatic cleaning of an ordinary down spout, nevertheless it will be apparent that it may be adapted to any one of a number of difierent other uses where the principles of the invention can be satisfactorily employed. In factories, and the like, for instance, pipes carrying a liquid containing material which it is desired to separate from the liquid may be fitted with a device of this character.

As many changes could be made in this construction without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the following claims, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description, or shown in the accompanying drawings, shall be interpreted as illustrative only and not in a limiting sense.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is 1. As an article of manufacture, a down spout cleaning device comprising a section of pipe adapted to be inserted as a portion of the length of the down spout, said section of pipe having an opening in the side wall thereof, a cover for said opening, a reinforcing frame fixed to said pipe surrounding said opening and providing a pivotal support for said cover, a screen arranged within said pipe inclining downwardly towards said opening, and said frame having a part to which the screen is fixed to retain the screen in said inclined position, all for the purpose set forth.

2. As an article of manufacture, a down spout cleaning device comprising a section of pipe adapted to be inserted as a portion of the length of the down spout, said section of pipe having an opening in the side wall thereof, a cover for said opening, a reinforcing frame fixed to said pipe surrounding said opening and providing a pivotal support for said cover, a screen arranged within said pipe inclining downwardly towards said opening, and said frame having a flange portion projecting therefrom into said opening at the lower edge of said screen and to which the screen is fixed to retain the screen in said inclined position, all for the purpose set forth.

3. As an article of manufacture, a down spout cleaning device comprising a section of pipe adapted to be inserted as a portion of the length of the down spout, said section of pipe having an opening in the side wall thereof, a cover for said opening, a reinforcing frame fixed to said pipe surrounding said opening and providing a pivotal support for said cover, a screen arranged within said pipe inclining downwardly towards said opening for the purposes set forth, said frame providing a part continuing outwardly from said opening and providing a striking surface against which the door fits to close said opening, and said door being weighted so as thereby to normally maintain close gravity contact with said striking surface.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

ALEXANDER RAYMOND WERNER. 

